69 drivers mirror(dated) source or what are my options

[Greg L.]

Where could I find a correct dated drivers side mirror assembly for my 69? Paragon used to carry them but as of about 2 months ago they only carry a off shore repop that they say won't pass judging...they do however still carry the mirror(dated) portion itself.

The other option is to somehow restore mine. The glass is good and the stem is so-so but the back of the head is badly pitted. Is there any way to take it apart and get it replated?

or

Would it be a better idea to get a correct repop(non dated if that is all I can find), remove the glass and install a dated glass from Paragon?

I'm in no rush...just trying to see what my options are.

[Jean C.]

Re: 69 drivers mirror(dated) source or what are my options

Greg,
Within the last couple of weeks Paragon installed a dated mirror glass in a Paragon (old style repro) interior mirror that I sent to them. If you can come up with a good frame, you might want to ask them if they will make the glass swap for you.

Similar to the situation with their '69 repro, the one they now stock for '64 interior is not the same as the one that I returned to them.

They shipped my mirror to me last Friday and I have not yet received it so I can not attest to how it looks.
Best regards,

[Tom S.]

Re: 69 drivers mirror(dated) source or what are my options

I bought a good used one for my 69 at the regional at Old Town a couple years ago. There are quite a few good used ones around. Did you try the driveline? By the way I might have the one off my 69, if I do its yours! I sold a bunch of stuff on the forum, so I don't know if I still have it or not?

[Michael B.]

Re: 69 drivers mirror(dated) source or what are my options

I have an exterior one I replaced because it wouldn't hold its adjustment at highway speeds. Is there any way to remove the mirror portion and tighten up the ball socket without damaging the dated mirror glass?

[Greg L.]

Re: 69 drivers mirror(dated) source or what are my options

Well thanks for the insight guys...I see that I may have some options.

Charlie I was thinking of getting a dated glass from Paragon so that may be my best bet if I can find a frame.

Tom I'll take you up on your offer if it's a nice clean one with a tight adjustment and I'll just order the dated glass from Paragon. Pm me with the details so that we don't turn this into a classifieds ad.

Michael I've never tried it but I've heard that soaking the mirror in lacquer thinner will disolve the glue so that the glass can be removed. I've never tried it so I can't say if it will or won't ALSO remove the silver coating on the back of the glass thus turning it into a "two way mirror" or "window"!

[Terry M.]

[Rick S.]

Re: 69 drivers mirror(dated) source or what are my options

Wow, restore a car to a defective condition!!

[Jeffrey S.]

Re: 69 drivers mirror(dated) source or what are my options

I wrote an article for the Michigan chapter magazine, "The Vette Signal" summer 2007 edition on a pernanent repair for this problem (NOT re-peening the factory rivets). I'm not sure if older articles are availble on the chapter website www.michiganncrs.org but I would be happy to scan the article in and email it to any one who wants it.
Jeff

[Terry M.]

Re: 69 drivers mirror(dated) source or what are my options

Jeff,
How about sending a copy of that article to Vinnie for The Restorer?

[Chuck S.]

Re: 69 drivers mirror(dated) source or what are my options

I wrote an article for the Michigan chapter magazine, "The Vette Signal" summer 2007 edition on a pernanent repair for this problem (NOT re-peening the factory rivets). I'm not sure if older articles are availble on the chapter website www.michiganncrs.org but I would be happy to scan the article in and email it to any one who wants it.
Jeff

Coincidentally, I was going through my chrome parts for replating last night, and ran across my original mirror with casting date E70 inside the housing. Jeff, I thought I had remembered it being loosey-goosey, but it's fairly tight now...it looks like I staked the **** out of those rivets.

The original dated mirror glass (5-DMI-0) was taped into the housing and in not too bad shape. I had removed the glass about a hundred years ago using Terry's lacquer thinner tip (Man, Terry yer gittin' old! ). I decided to just replace the assembly with Paragon's repro mirror and glass, but after seeing the repro part, the project went into a holding pattern. Never throw anything away...those old parts can look pretty good after you've seen the reproduction alternative.

Last night, I started cleaning up the mineral stains around the perimeter of the glass using some Simichrome polish, and I'm thinking I may try a little Rhodite on a few minor scratches. Which leads to my questions...

Has anyone ever had an outside mirror housing successfuly replated as an assembly?...What do you do with the adjustment ball pivot; can you mask it off to keep the chrome from turning the mirror into one solid non-adjustable housing. Or...alternately, can you drill out the rivets to disassemble the housing parts for separate plating, then reassemble with tapping screws or drive rivets? Maybe that's in your article, Jeff...if so, Terry's right; it's prime stuff for The Corvette Restorer.

[Jeffrey S.]

Re: 69 drivers mirror(dated) source or what are my options

Chuck:
The ball is captured in the mirror section and cannot be removed by "unriveting" the tension strap. I am certain that the ball section was origionally a seperate piece from the support (the part that bolts to the car door). My guess is that after passing the small end through the mirror head it was pressed into the stand. I have never had a junker to experiment with so I don't know if it is at all possible to work this loose. If you have one that is unusable, try heating up the stand and see if you can work it loose. My article deals only with removing the glass and tightening the strap permanently.
Jeff

[Jeffrey S.]

Re: 69 drivers mirror(dated) source or what are my options

Terry:
I will forward a copy of the article to Vinnie. I would love to have it in the Restorer. At the time I wrote it there were so many conditions that had to be met that I didn't have the knowhow to do it. Maybe that is still true but I will send it anyway.
Jeff